CBI cracks Bhanwari Devi case; 1 more nabbed

The Central Bureau of Investigation has achieved a major breakthrough in the Bhanwari Devi case with the arrest of Kailash Jakhar, who is alleged to have disposed off her body.

Jakhar was arrested on Tuesday night from a truck on the Jodhpur-Ajmer highway following a tip off. He is alleged to have obtained Bhanwari Devi from Sohan Lal Bishnoi and Shahabuddin after they picked her up from Bilara on September one.

According to the police sources, he has admitted to have taken possession of Bhanwari Devi and disposed her off somewhere in Jaloda village near Phalodi.

"He has admitted to having burnt her and we will now take him for the physical verification of the spot, where she was burnt," the sources said.

Jakhar is an active member of the Bishna Ram Bishnoi gang, which is also wanted by the CBI and carries a cash reward of Rs five lakh on his head. The CBI has already arrested Bishna Ram's brother Om Prakash Bishnoi who is currently under CBI custody.

Jakhar is the person, who as per the investigations so far, had come to Nevra Road on the evening of September one to receive Bhanwari Devi from Sohan Lal and Shahabuddin in a light green colour Scorpio car.

Following the directions of Sahi Ram Bishnoi, they had handed her over to Jakhar for the final disposal with a direction not to leave any mark leading to her identification. The police have also seized this Scorpio some time back and CFSL team has examined this car. Jakhar had sold this car to some Sharavan Singh, who has admitted before the CBI to have purchased from him.

The CBI has kept him at its camp office at Jodhpur Circuit House for further interrogation and has taken Om Prakash to Jaloda for the verification of the spot, as he is also believed to be with him during disposal of Bhanwari's body.

This arrest followed by the identification of the spot of Bhanwari's disposal will now also enable the CBI to give reply to the Rajasthan high court, where the habeas corpus filed by Bhanwari's husband Amarchand is still pending and is listed or next hearing on January 10.